Narrow to wide band converter



April 12, 1960 c; BUFF NARRow To WIDE RAND CONVERTER Filed oct. 1, 195e United Sitates Patent O 2,932,730 NARROW TO WIDE BAND CONVERTER` Christopher Bul, Deer Park, N.Y., assignor to Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 613,082

5 Claim. (Cl. 250m-8) This invention relates to communication systems, of the type employing a pluralityrof different and discrete signal frequencies.

One such system is the frequency-shift telegraphy system. In this form of communication system, two frequencies are required per channel, one for space and the other for mark YOne such system is the Twinplex telegraphy system developed by Mackay Radio and Telegraph Co., New York, N.Y. described in the publication Electrical Communication, March 1952 issue. Since this invention has particular utility in connection with the `more common frequency-shift keying (F.S.K.) system Vand the Twinplex system, it will be described in conjunction therewith. However, it is applicable to any plural frequency communication system.

Twinplex is a two-channel telegraphy system in which a signalling condition, mar or space, of each of two channels, is derived from a single instantaneous frequency. The Twinplex system combines two, 2 element mark-space channels to form on the frequency scale a single four-element channel. Each of the four frequencies represents one of four possible combinations of mark and space conditions. For example, the mark-mark combinations, that is, a mark for each channel, is represented by a frequency of 1950cyc1es per second (c.p.s.); the markspace combination is represented by 2350 c.p.s. `and the space-mark and space-space combinations are represented by 275,0 and n3150 c.p.s., respectively.

Heretofore, the signals at the transmitter in both the Twinplex and F.S.K. systems occupied the same frequency band as at the receiver. In Twinplex the four lsignals are generally separated by 400 c.p.s.; while in F.S.K., they are generally separated by between to 900 c.p.s. The specific separation is usually determined by the limitations of the receiving equipment to distinguish, aftery discrimination, one signal from another, and the stability of the associated oscillators. Although such signal separation is satisfactory at the receiver for practical signal discrimination, it would be greatly advantageous to 1' space the signals more closely` together in frequency atthe transmitting end in order to transmit maximum information in the narrowest width.

However, when the transmitted signals are spaced more closely together certain problems arise at the receiving end ofthe system which are peculiar to the F.S.K. and Twinplex systems. g l In the F.S.K. system,` only one of two signals is transmitted at any one instant, whichrepresents either the p mark or space element of a single channel, and therefore it is comparatively simple, at thereceiver, to distinguish between the signals, even when such signals occupyv a relatively narrow band. This is because the mark and space signals are on opposite sides of the center frequency'and produce at theoutput of the discriminator positive and negative voltages respectively, which may be amplified and utilized directly.Y However, when the mark possible band- Vlandspace signals `occupy. a narrow band eg. 100 c.p.s.,`

2 then the local oscillator at the receiver must be accurately controlled to prevent any drift even approaching 10 c.p.s. Thus, an extremely accurate and very sensitive automatic frequency-control (AFC.) circuit must be employed at the receiver.

In Twinplex a diferent problem arises when the transmitted signals occupy a narrow frequency band. In Twinplex four signal frequencies, centered about a center carrier frequency, are received at the receiver, and thus the output of the discriminator consists of four levels of direct-current (D.C.) voltage. However, since the signal frequencies are sov closely spaced, the two positive D.C. voltages are hardly distinguishable from each other, and similarly for the two negative D.C. voltages. Therefore, if narrow band transmission is to be employed it becomes essential to provide some means at the receiver to distinguish between the various signals.

It is an object of this invention to provide circuit means adapted for F.S.K. and Twinplex receivers, which permits the use of narrow band transmission. i

in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system comprising means for transmitting and receiving a plurality of different signal frequencies, the signals occupying as a group a narrow-frequency band, and characterized by means at the receiver for converting the signals to occupy a substantially wider frequency band.

ln accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is provided a receiver comprising a circuit adapted to convert the band of frequencies to a relatively wide band and to derive from the converted band of signals a frequency control voltage to control the local oscillator of the receiver.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood byreference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a block diagram of a Twinplex transmitter in which the transmitted signal frequencies occupy a relatively narrow band;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a Twinplex receiver illustrating the narrow-to-wide band converter circuit, and

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a F,S.K. receiver illustrating the narrow-to-wide band converter circuit as utilized to develop the A.F.C. control voltage.V

Referring to Figure l, there is illustrated a T winplex transmitter comprising two channels A and B, each capable of producing a signal for the mark and space ele- `ments. The output from the two channels are in the form of DC. voltages and are multiplexed in a combiner 1 in accordance with known practice. At theoutput of the combiner, there are four successive D C. voltages, representing the four possible signal combinations discussed above. The D C. voltages are applied to a frequencyshift exciter 2 which comprises an oscillator whose frequency varies in accordance with the applied D.C. voltages. Ordinarily, the transmitted frequencies are separated from one another by 400 c.p.s., however, in accordance with the invention they may be separated by c.p.s. or even less. The RF. frequencies derived from the exciter Z are then amplified in transmitter 3 for transmission over antenna 4. By way of example, the transmitted frequencies as shown in Figure 1, may be Fric.p.s., Fc-i-SO c.p.s., Fc-SO c.p.s. and Fc-lSO c.p.s., where Fc is the center frequency. In the T winplex system the carrier frequency may be 2O megacycles. Y

Referring to Fig. 2, the Twinplex frequency signals are received at receiver 6, heterodyned with the local oscillations generated by oscillator 7, to produce an inprinter equipment (not shown).

In accordance with the invention, the output'of the dist-,rirninatorV l1li is filtered by a low pass filterV 11 to relnrove the R.F. ripple, and Ythen applied over anattenu- .ator Q12Y to a frequencyfshiftdevice, e.g. a reactancetube ,lf The reasons@ tube i3 may be @1f conventional le- .sisa ,for linearly varying the frequency ef an Oscillator 14, he voscillator 14 is preferably tuned to a center frequency in the Twinpleir frequency range o fv 1 950 c.p.s. to 3 150 c.p.s.V lf adjacent signals are to be separated ONOerp.s as required in the existing Twinplex receiving equipment, then the center frequency is 255() c.p.s. The

A oscillator,14 should be linear and the input to the re YaetanceV tube should be adjusted by the attenuator 12 so that `for the four levels of voltage, corresponding to the `four frequency combinations, the reactance tube will modulate'the oscillator 14 to -generate four respective frequencies separated by 400 cps. In other words, the attenuated discriminator voltage produced by the deviation,

VErl-*50 c.p.s., should biasthe reactance tube so that it causes thevfrequency of the oscillator to generate 2750 c .p s.; for Pfc-50 c.p.s., the oscillator should generate Va frequency of 2350 c.p.s.,and similarly for the other voltages. In this manner the narrow band occupied by the transmitting signals is converted to arelatively wide band, and the Twinplex signals as converted are then ,"appliedto respective iilters and rectitiers whereby a suitbleiD-Qjvoltase iS Produced t Operate the Printer- The function of the attenuator 12 is very important because it controls the amplitude ofthe Sisa applied t0 the reactance tube; the signal amplitude determining the extent of modulation (and therefore frequency swing) produced by the reactance tube.

The invention, thus far, has been describeddn connectron with a Twinplex communication system. However,

if we assume the transmitter toV be of the FSK. type,

i.e. V :inlyone channel operatingand utilizing only two possible signalcombinations, then the output. of the discriminator may be used after amplification Adirectly to operate the printer. As briefly discussed above, this is ,because it is relatively simple to detect and distinguish the character of the received mark and space signals, particularly when one is positive and the other negative.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is illustrated a portion of a typical FSK. receiver, including the novel A F.C. circuit constituting another embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, the receiver is adapted ,to receive two carrier signals separated by 100' cps. or

less. The signals, as in Twinplex reception, are applied tov the discriminator 10, which develops either a positive or negative 11C. voltage, depending on the direction of ,signal egciirsion from the `carrier frequency. The RF. Avrippley is removed from the discriminator output'by the low pass liilter 11, and then unlike Twinplex, amplified and utilized directly `to operate the printer. However, U24although the signals may be used directly, itis imperative that'tl'ielocal oscillator 7 be controlled precisely because of the narrow spacing of the different signal frequencies.

For example, if a carrier'of l20 megacycles is used, the

local oscillator frequency may be '19.55 mc., and yet it must be so controlled as Ato prevent a drift even approachling 10 c.p.s.

In aceordance with the invention, a portion ofthe routput Asignal is appliedwtolthe A.F.C.circuit over an attenuator 12; which carries the same function as the attenuator 'discussed inconnection with Fig. 2. The attenuated D.C. voltages represent the deviation from the center frequency of the carrier signal and also any drift which may have been introduced by oscillator 7. These voltages are applied to a reactance tube 13 which is capable of producing a wide frequency swing in oscillator 14. The result of this wide frequency swing from the centerfrequency of oscillator 14 permits the development of a control voltage. Either or both of the modulated oscillations from Voscillator 14 may be used in the development of the control voltage, however, one frequencyhas been foundgenerally adequate for this purpose. The unwanted frequency is blocked'by band pass lter 15 and the desired frequency is applied to discriminator 16. The discriminator 16 is tuned to a frequency corresponding to the desired frequency generatedby oscillator 14when there is no drift Vin the local oscillato'r`7. Thus, if there is no undesirable 4drift in the local oscillator'ltlen no voltage will bedevelo'ped by the ,oscillator 7, then no voltage will be developed bythe discrirnnator 16. However, any drift in the local oscillator results in theV discriminator l16 producing a D.C. voltage, which is integrated at 17 and applied to the local oscillator 7 as a control voltage. Thus, the elfect of narrow-to-wide band conversion is to produce a control voltage many times greater than would be possible if-the output of discriminator 10 were employeddirectly for Vsuch purpose. For example, if attenuator 12 is adjusted to prod nce'a shift of 800 c.p.s on oscillator 14 with received signal shiftk of 100 c .p.s., then one cycle shift in the latter produces 8 cycles shiftfrom oscillator 14. VConsequently the precision of holding inroscillator 7 is increased Aby a factor ofteight timesA over conu ventional A;P.C. v While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with Vspecific apparatus, it is to be understood that this description is madeonly by way of example'and not as, a limitation Vto the'. scope` ofmy accompanying claims.

Whatis claimed is:

Vl. At receiver for receiving at least four discrete signals of respectivelydilferent frequencies occupying a narrow frequency band and converting such signals to occupy-a relatively wider frequency band, comprising heterodyninglmeans for converting said signals to a corresponding number` of intermediate frequencies, afre- Yinvention asset forth in the objects thereof and inthe queuey discriminator copled'to. the output of said heterodyning means and tuned toA a center frequency of the, intermediate frequencies, whereby the output of said frequency discrhninator onsists of four .,drectfcurrent voltages whose amplitudes are representative ofthe tdift ference between the center frequency and the respective intermediate frequencies, aV reactanceftube :coupled to ,the output Aof said frequency discriminator and an oscillater tunedto aV given frequency coupled tofthe output of said reactance tube, the reactance tube being adjusted to modulate said oscillator to produce relativelyolvide Y swings in frequency in response to the four levelsofvoltage arplied ,t0 said rsatanfub, the generated fre'- qanciss assuminga Substantially Wider frequency band filles @bemand signals! a nlurelify 9f- .ssl'eevfatg circuits and means coupling the output clrcuit-offsad ,oscillator-t9 .Saiasisnalssparetns skalie- /2, The system accord'ng to cl l and further com- .-prising anattfenuatorfcoipled hetween'the outputof said 4cliserirniriator andtlieinput of said .reaetace' tube,ff`or controlling accurately the amplitude'of thevoltage applied -to said frequency-shi ftl device.

' 3. A receiver for` a fr Vuency-shift telegraphyV system,

kadaptedto receive atleast two signals of respectively dilferent frequencies occupying a relatively narrow frequency band, comprising `a local,ryseillator, Ameans fdor hetcrodyning the lreceived signalsn-wthsthe ',.QSQHMQPS generated by said local oscillator to produce a corresponding number of intermediate frequency Waves, a frequency discriminator tuned to a center frequency of said intermediate frequencies, means for applying said intermediate frequency waves to said frequency discriminator, the output of said frequency discriminator consisting of two direct-current voltages representative of the difference between the center and respective intermediate frequencies, including spurious local oscillator drift, a reactance tube coupled to the output of said frequency discriminator, an oscillator tuned to a given frequency and coupled to the output of said reactance tube, the reactance tube being adjusted to modulate said oscillator in response to the levels of said two direct-current voltages to produce, respectively, waves occupying a substantially wider frequency band than the received signais, means to suppress an undesired one of said waves of substantial wider frequency and to pass the wave of desired frequency, a second frequency discriminator tuned to the desired frequency wave, means for applying said desired frequency wave to said second frequency discriminator, the output thereof consisting of a direct-current control voltage of an amplitude representative of the degree of local-oscillator drift, and means applying said control voltage to said local oscillator for the frequency control thereof.

4. The system according to claim 3 and further cornprising an attenuator coupled between the output of said discriminator and the input of said reactance-tube, for controlling accurately the amplitude of the voltage applied to said reactance tube.

5. A system for receiving a plurality of discrete frequency signals having a frequency excursion on opposite sides of a center frequency which excursion is of narrow width, comprising a frequency discriminator, means applying said signals to said discriminator to produce in the output thereof direct current voltages of amplitudes respectively representing said discrete signals, an oscillator tuned to a given frequency, a frequency shift device coupled between said oscillator and the said discriminator output, means to adjust said device to produce output signals from said oscillator respectively representing said discrete signals but with a frequency excursion which is substantially wider than the said excursion of said discrete signals, and a plurality of signal separating circuits connected between the output of said oscillator and a signal utilization device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,145,138 Saylor Jan. 24, 1939 2,316,017 Peterson Apr. 6, 1943 2,341,649 Peterson Feb. 15, 1944 2,527,523 Borst Oct. 31, 1950 

